Saints-Falcons Postgame Quotes

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Head Coach Sean Payton
Opening Statement: Obviously, itís a disappointing loss. Itís a tough loss. It was a hard fought game. I told this to the team, when you turn it over like we did early on, we give up ...

Opening Statement: Obviously, itís a disappointing loss. Itís a tough loss. It was a hard fought game. I told this to the team, when you turn it over like we did early on, we give up a big plays, and we fail to convert that kick in overtime like that, itís going to be tough to overcome those things. Itís going to be tough to overcome out inability out there on fourth and short to get a yard. It is easy to look at the kick and just point that specific play in overtime, yet there was a reason we were in overtime. The turnovers, something we have done a good job with, we gave up some big plays to guys we were supposed to be doubling in coverage and we canít get off the field late in our run defense and like I alluded to earlier, the missed field goal there in overtime. Itís a tough loss. Credit them. They came in and played a real good game. It was a hard fought win for them. Itís disappointing. We all, collectively, myself included, have got to get back and do a better job next week. We will watch this tape tomorrow and get our focus on to Carolina next week.

Did you speak with Garrett Hartley and if so, what did you say to him? That wouldnít be for you guys.

When you look at the offense, did you see problems from the last two weeks appear in this game? There were some big plays that we had and yet we are still some problems in short yard situations, we had dropped balls today. There were a couple of penalties. We are not playing our best football. At times, we did some real good things and we just werenít consistent enough, nor were we on defense.

Is there anything you see on why Tight Ends have been able to have so much success against you the past three weeks? This one was different. This one, you wouldnít compare to the last two weeks. He was a lot more involved, targeted on third down. He is a good player. He came up with, especially in the first half, some big receptions early in the game.

Can you talk about the time of possession especially the drive where they had the ball for ten minutes? The game ended up at 37 to 22.5. Obviously, that drive to finish the half took a lot of time off the clock. In the second, it kind of swung a little bit more to a balance. Itís a good team. Itís a good team offensively and defensively. We couldnít get them off the field in that drive and they ate up a lot of time on that drive also.

Do you think you would have blocked that first field goal in overtime if you had not called a timeout? It was one of those whistle plays, I think. I donít know. I was going to use a timeout. It was pretty simple. We were going to use a timeout and let them kick it again.

Do you feel like your defense was more tired on that last drive? It ended up being a long day. They had a lot of snaps to defend. 67 snaps to be specific. Itís a big momentum swing there when you are down in a position at the 11 to win the game and then you are back on defense. Certainly we would have liked to force them to punt at some point. We struggled. We struggled stopping them in the run game, really. It was pretty clear.

Damn Payton is pissed Hartley...i dont blame him...damn son you cost us BIGTIME...

Didn't Washington cut their kicker last year after we beat them in overtime? I just don't feel confident when Hartley is kicking. Ever. Especially not now. He's got a leg that's for sure, but he's a head case!!